“4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.” (Acts 4:1-22 ESV)
Behemoth, raising up, we serve a God equal if not greater. Mantra, spoken in hushed tones, we serve a God who listens, if not joins in. Plain dealings, goodness and mercy, we serve a God who approves, if not celebrates.
The trademarked Christian works include an entire pantheon of Righteous Endeavors. These can flub and err around the First Mandate: let not the religion be its own poison pill. Let not the religion be the antithetical cause for calls to Convert and to Reform. Let not the religion make falsely modest people, rather let it humble the proud in signs and shows of Power: if this one or that one purrs a little less violently, a little more meekly, well that is a sign of the Power of the Spirit. Not the “Calmness of the Spirit” but the Power.
In strange tongues they will praise You! The soldier’s endeavor to draw near to his or her Mate in Christ, is an endeavor to know and be known. The thought exercise of the soldier is therefore to Accept the rules as passed down through the channels clerical or secular, and mentally to dream big around God for us, around God by our side, around God our witness and object of Worship.
Those rules passed down, they are trademarked by their professors, by those who profess them, yet no reason exists for us therefore to shun or distance ourselves: the validity of the sacraments is Not contingent on the validity of the one administering them, of the priest. But still, push comes to shove and these who are a bit more rapacious or hungry, they covet and hoard the Holy Things, as if trademarked by a clergy or by a magisterium.
The missional nature of our Calling is therefore to listen to those visions that arise as we drift off through a presentation or a lecture, through a sermon or a prophecy. We see the call to be sent, the call to minister a Sent Forth message: to these or to those, something Living and Active, sharper than a two-edged Sword. Not credentialed much, not legitimized except by said Spirit of Pentecost, who is fierce not tame, and who is on attack not whimpering surrender. The gentle pleading, this is an Attack when found in the guise of Spirit: because of who He is, who this Spirit is: the gentle pleading is violently potent and lovingly Corrective. Hands off, by definition of Spirit, He is so almighty and powerful as to make gentle words have Money, Potency, Gregarious Insistence: God is for you!
Therefore to accept this intrusion of something external to ourselves, of some moment of Decision (not just accepting once baptized, always saved), to see Christ as a handyman and laborer in the vineyard of our soul, this is to raise up an Evangelical Standard, Gospel-Oriented Banner, Lamb and Cross Sign. For us, the deciding point is Theological, our war, the banner under which we labor in utmost sincerity, is simultaneously our Secret Mission and Anointed Status as soldiers of an outfit sublime, an intelligence unit, a Rank and Circumstance high and lifted up: we are uplifted as though a limp body Resuscitated and manually Carried Up, given Life and Alacrity, Resurrected. This is our Hope in Christ Jesus. This is our Experience in the realm of Spirit, of His secret mission and plain-dealings around wearing our heart on our sleeve: no matter, if we are beside ourselves; we are beside ourselves for Christ, the linchpin, the spymaster and Sincere Doer of Good. It is a healing hour, a prophetic hour, a Time to put aside pretense and put shoulder to the plow, to raise up the standard, to bear sword and shield, helmet and belt, of Righteousness. Never embarrassed to be known by that name “Christian”, but using polemic and persuasive tactics to Honor the One who came and died by our side.